Crashes clog freeways during foggy commute

Dec. 5, 2012

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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A California Highway Patrol officer talks to the driver of a Toyota Corolla who was involved in one of two separate collisions on the southbound I-405 near Springdale Street in Westminster. A motorcyclist suffered minor injuries after rear-ending a motorist and fog was not a factor in the collision, according to officer J. Langager of the CHP. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Fog hinders visability as pedestrians cross Beach Boulevard in Westminster. Dense fog could make driving in Orange county dangerous Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Visibility of one-quarter mile or less was expected. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Northbound traffic flows slow and smooth on the I-405 in Westminster. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A CHP officer reports information about a motorcycle as the rider is stabilized in an ambulance. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A motorcycle rider is treated in an ambulance before a ride to a near by hospital. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A CHP officer asks the driver of a Toyota Celica to wait in her car after two separate collisions on the southbound I-405 near Springdale Street in Westminster. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A CHP officer talks with the driver of a Toyota Celica on the southbound I-405 near Springdale Street before sending her on her way. KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

A California Highway Patrol officer talks to the driver of a Toyota Corolla who was involved in one of two separate collisions on the southbound I-405 near Springdale Street in Westminster. A motorcyclist suffered minor injuries after rear-ending a motorist and fog was not a factor in the collision, according to officer J. Langager of the CHP.KEN STEINHARDT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Several crashes slowed traffic on Orange County freeways Wednesday morning as dense fog impaired visibility around the region.

The National Weather Service warned that the fog could make for dangerous driving conditions. Visibility of one-fourth mile or less was expected in parts of Los Angeles County and coastal portions of Orange County, according to the National Weather Service, which issued a dense fog advisory expiring at 9 a.m.

At Grand Avenue and northbound I-5, two trucks collided around 5:40 a.m., blocking the off-ramp and right lane for about two hours.

Around 7 a.m., four vehicles crashed on the westbound 22 at Glassell Street, blocking lanes for about 20 minutes.

On I-405 south, a motorcyclist and a Toyota collided around 7:20 a.m. near Springdale Street in Westminster. The crash left the motorcyclist with minor injuries and triggered another collision, closing the carpool lane for about half an hour, said Officer J. Langager of the California Highway Patrol. Fog was not a factor in the crash, he added.

“If driving, slow down, use your headlights and leave plenty of distance ahead of you. Fog can also make road surfaces slick so avoid using excessive speed,” the Weather Service urged in an advisory.

Forecasters warned that travel will be hampered by dense fog in and around Long Beach to Gardena and West Los Angeles, including Los Angeles International Airport, and in coastal Orange County, especially over higher coastal terrain.

At John Wayne Airport, departures were not affected by the weather. Several arrivals were delayed, however, for between 20 minutes and an hour as pilots navigated the fog.

The foggy conditions, typical for Southern California at this time of year, were the result of cool surface temperatures that cause moisture in the air to condense into fog, said Kathy Hoxsie a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. “We also have a weak onshore flow at the moment,” she said.

Recent rains have also left moisture that causes the fog to extend farther inland than it otherwise might, Hoxsie said.

Strengthening offshore winds will push the moist air out to sea beginning tonight and that should continue through Friday morning, she said.

Foggy conditions at LAX could also make for delays in flight arrivals and departures this morning, Hoxsie said.

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